Basement Dehumidifiers

Basement dehumidifiers may look a little different or have some different features than standard room dehumidifiers, but they operate under the same principles. Dehumidifiers remove water from the air through condensation. The basic components of a basement dehumidifier include: Compressor Evaporator Coil (cold coil) Condenser Coil (hot coil) Circulating Fan

Basement Dehumidifier Operational Principles

The operational principles of basement dehumidifiers are fairly simple. The compressor compresses the refrigerant gas that is used to cool the evaporator coils. The fan pushes moisture-laden air across the evaporator coils, the air then condenses and the water drops into a collection bucket or a drain hose. The cold air then passes over heated coils before returning to the room.

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You just spent all that money to create a finished basement to enjoy and entertain in and now it smells like an old sneaker.

Sound familiar?

Many homeowners who have finished basements soon discover that unchecked moisture and humidity soon lead to foul smelling mildew. Mold and mildew will flourish in areas of your finished basement that are damp, poorly lighted, warm and have weak air circulation.

Mildew is actually produced by molds when there is adequate moisture supply and warm temperatures. Mildew feeds on cellulose material and emits volatile organic compounds (VOC"s) that produce the nasty smell associated with damp basements. Mildew will feed and grow on a variety of surfaces in a finished basement:

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Homeowners with basement moisture problems sometimes debate whether the solution is an air conditioner or a dehumidifier. Both instruments operate on the same fundamental principles so it can be easy to become confused. The major difference is that air conditioners cool the air, but they remove very little moisture from it.When air passes over the air conditioners coils, it becomes cooler and a little moisture is removed as a side effect. Dehumidifiers are designed to take the water out of the air. When moist air passes through the dehumidifiers evaporation coils it falls into a collection bucket or is expelled through a drain hose. You can run an air conditioner and get the temperature down so low you could hang meat in your basement. However, your walls would likely be covered in water.

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Did you know that your wet basement could be hosting millions and millions of dust mites? That’s right. Damp, wet basements caused by humidity problems and that don’t have basement dehumidifiers provide a perfect environment for dust mites. Just like mold and mildew, dust mites enjoy the inviting home a wet basement provides. Dust mites flourish in warm temperatures (above 75F) and high humidity levels (above 70%).

The North American house dust mite (dermatophagoides farinae) is a microscopic pest that feeds on dead human skin cells, hair and pet dander. If dust mites find the right climate to live in, food is certainly not a problem. The average person loses approximately 30,000-40,000 dead skin cells every minute. Skin is the largest organ in the human body. The outside layer of skin is called epidermis and this is the layer that sheds. The outermost layer of skin consists of 25-30 layers of dead cells. That is quite a banquet we humans provide for dust mites. Read The Rest of This Article »

Most basements provide a harsh environment for a dehumidifier. Many basements are built with little regard to air circulation. Compound poor air circulation with high humidity and that’s why so many basements have that damp, clammy feeling. The basic home room dehumidifier just isn’t built to handle the heavy moisture loads created by basement humidity. Condensation build up on cold basement walls, windows and floors is a sign of excessive basement humidity. For basement humidity you need a basement dehumidifier.

One of the most important things to look for when purchasing a basement dehumidifier is the pints per day rate. This rate will tell you how many pints of water the basement dehumidifier can remove from the area in 24 hours. The AHAM standards method for testing is in an environment that is 80F and 60% relative humidity. For a humid basement, a good choice would be a unit that can remove close to 100. Residential room dehumidifiers that remove 30-40 pints per day just won’t cut it in a humid basement.

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Is there a hotter topic in the United States right now that energy prices? Wouldn’t it be great to have the most energy efficient dehumidifiers available? There is a program out there called Energy Star that can help. Energy Star is a partnership program between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Their joint mission is cost savings and environmental protection through energy efficient products and practices. Energy Star was introduced in 1992 by the EPA in an attempt to reduce greenhouses gases by using a volunteer labeling program designed to identify and promote energy efficient products. You will find the Energy Star label on home appliances such as basement dehumidifiers, electronic devices and lighting among others.

Energy Star provides over 50 product categories covering thousands of models. Products sporting the Energy Star label typically provide 10% to 20% more energy efficiency than non-rated models. The Energy Star program has been adopted by the European Union, New Zealand and Australia to become the international symbol for energy efficiency.

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Having a wet basement causes many homeowners each year to lose money for devalued property, costly repairs or both. There are a multitude of things that can lead to a wet basement. Poor construction principles, leaky pipes and improper drainage all can contribute to moisture penetration and a wet basement. Basements are also closed areas that are prone to extreme temperatures and high humidity.

A wet basement can be caused by:

• Leaky roof
• Clogged gutters & downspouts
• Improper surface drainage
• Leak from water heater/washing machine
• Porous concrete
• Surface or groundwater
• High outdoor humidity

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Not only can you enlarge the living area of your home with basement remodeling, but you can also increase the value of your home. Depending on what you do, remodeling a basement can lead to major expenses. You should protect this investment with a good quality basement dehumidifier. We all know that basements usually have more moisture related problems than any other area of a house. In fact, over 60% of all basements in the U.S. have excessive moisture issues. Before you begin a basement remodeling project you should examine your basement for signs of potential water problems. You will save yourself a lot of time, money and grief if you discover the problem before you remodel.

The excess moisture that could be lurking in your basement can cause highly unpleasant odors related to mold and can seriously damage carpets, draperies, woodwork and personal items stored in your basement. Recognize these symptoms of excess basement moisture:

• Condensation on walls/windows
• Damp carpets
• Stains/spots on walls and floors
• Warped wood
• Blistering/peeling paint
• Damp draperies
• Strong, musty unpleasant odors

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Preventing expensive moisture damage in your basement requires good moisture detection skills. There are certain signs to look for that can help you to create and maintain a dry basement. Basements are highly susceptible to water damage and moisture problems. In fact, moisture from wet soil penetrating basement walls and floors can create up to 100 pints of water in the basement per day! Although humidity is one of the biggest elements of basement moisture issues, there are many other factors that can lead to moisture damage in your basement. Proper excessive moisture detection techniques include: • Check for cracked hoses or pipes on washing machines and water heaters • Improper grading that drains water towards the house • Plugged up gutters and drainspouts • Cracks in walls and floors that may allow water seepage, especially if there is poor soil drainage • Vent clothes dryers outside and make sure ducting fits tightly • Use a ventilation fan if there is a shower in the basement • Keep basement relative humidity level below 50% To check the relative humidity in the basement use a humidistat. This inexpensive instrument will give an accurate reading of humidity levels in an area. An effective technique to detect moisture seepage around visible cracks in concrete is to seal a piece of aluminum foil to the surface with duct tape. Check the foil in 24-48 hours for condensation. In basements, condensation if often a major problem due to high basement humidity levels. In damp basements you will often notice water on windows and walls. In extreme humidity conditions the window actually acts as a dehumidifier, which can destroy the wood in the windowsill. If the humidity level rises above 65% it can cause metal objects to rust. This can cause expensive damage to electronic devices like televisions and stereos. In summer months with high humidity a basement should never be ventilated. When the warm, moist air from outside enters a cool basement it increases relative humidity. Air at a temperature of 75F and 65% relative humidity will have a relative humidity of around 90% when cooled to 65F in a basement. The easiest and least costly method to remove excessive internal moisture in a basement is with a basement dehumidifier. A robust unit like the Dri-Basement will remove all of the excess moisture in the air leaving you with a clean smelling, comfortable dry basement. In your basement, wet is not wild. It’s destructive. Proper steps fro a dry basement: • Prevent water entry • Control indoor moisture sources • Understand the principles of humidity • After drying out a basement, keep it dry with a Dri-Basement basement dehumidifier

You can smell it before you see it. It hits you half way down the stairs. Just about every one of us has gone into a basement with high humidity that had that foul, musty odor. We call it mildew and high humidity is its friend. Basements with high humidity are common, especially those without basement dehumidifiers. High humidity brings to mind words like muggy, damp, sweaty, dripping, clammy and soggy. There are primarily 3 types of humidity:Absolute humidity is equal to the mass of water vapor divided by the total volume of air, or water vapor density. Absolute humidity changes as the volume of an air parcel changes. Changes in the volume of an air parcel occur normally as air rises or sinks.Relative humidity is the ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air to the amount required for saturation at a given temperature and pressure. A relative humidity of 100% means that an air parcel is completely saturated.Specific humidity is equal to the mass of water vapor in the air divided by the total mass of the air parcel (including water vapor). Since this is a unitless number, it is expressed as a percentage. Mildew is a generic term used to describe a thin growth that is produced on many surfaces by mold. Mold, mildew and fungus are all part of the same family tree. Mildew is commonly found in areas of the home with high humidity such as the basement, crawlspace, bathroom or attic. Mildew is ugly, smelly and unhealthy. Mildew and molds can trigger allergy symptoms in susceptible individuals. You can almost measure humidity in your basement by mildew growth. Getting the humidity out of your basement is the key to getting the mildew out. If you use a high performance basement dehumidifier you can dry the air and eliminate mildew and mold. Basements are tough places to reduce humidity so you need a powerful dehumidifier especially developed for humid basements. The Dri-Basement provides a robust 320 CFM fan to draw in that moist air and return dry air to your basement. Dri-Basement can remove up to 105 pints of water per day to keep the mildew away.